Adjustable hanger for picture-frames



No. 614.184. 7 Patentad Nov. 15, I898.

- H. D. SMART.

(Application filed Nov. 19, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Y

HERBERT D. SMART, OF NASHUA, NEWV HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO WILLIAM G. ROSE, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ADJUSTABLE HANGER FOR PICTURE-FRAMES, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,184, dated November 15, 1898.

A li atio fil d November 19, 1897- Serial No- 659,126. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT D. SMART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nashua, in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Hangers for Picture-Frames and the Like, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to improvements in adjustable hangers for picture-frames, mirrors, &c., whereby said frames may be easily raised and lowered to any desired height and whereby said frames may be easily and automatically set at any angle to the wall without taking the hanger or adjuster from the frame.

As is well known, picture-frames as ordinarily arranged have two screw-eyes, one on either side, and the frame hangs at an angle with reference to a wall corresponding to whatever distance the screw-eyes-are placed from the top of the frame. To give more cant, they are placed lower down, or a stick or little article is employed between the back of frame and wall. With my improvement this is obviated.

, With these ends in View this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pictureframe having my improved hanger and adj uster attached thereto; Fig. 2, a perspective of one of the racked bars composing the hanger; Fig. 3, a perspective of one of the adjusters to which the cord or wireis attached, illustrating the manner of attaching such a wire or cord; Fig. 4, a similar view showing a cord drawn taut.

The adj usterAis made preferably of metal, with notchesB on the under side, the distance between each notch decreasing gradually toward the bottom of said adjuster for the reason that the cant to the picture-frame decreases in an inverse proportion to the distance the hanger is lowered or raised, so that to produce a cant of the same distance at each movement of the hanger said hanger is required to be moved a less distance each time it is lowered on the adjuster. The adjuster may be made with any suitable ends for attaching it to the frame, and I have here shown each end terminating in a foot D, through which is formed a hole E for the passage of a screw F but of course I do not wish to be limited to this exact arrangement.

The hanger O is placed upon the adjuster before the latter is secured to the frame; it being understood that there are two hangers and adjusters for each frame and that the wire or cord G has its ends attached to each of the hangers in order that the picture may be suspended from a suitable nail H or other device.

From this description the operation of my improvement will be obviously as follows: After the adjuster and hanger have been placed in position on the frame the cord G is passed through from the top side of the slot f, which is formed in the hanger for that pur pose, a half-turn is made to form a loop or bight, and that is slipped over the top of the hanger and drawn taut under the ears g. Thus the weight of the frame will hold the knot automatically, and when it is desired to raise or lower the frame the latter is slightly lifted and the loop is slipped over the ears,

when the cord becomes straight and the frame.

can be placed at whatever height required and the loop again passed over the ears, as shown in Fig. 3, and drawn taut, as shown in Fig. 4..

Should the frame be supported by the hangers being in engagement with the top notches of the adjusters and it is desired to give the frame more cant, the hangers are placed in lower notches of the adjusters and the frame can be tilted to any angle and automatically there held.

It will be understood that for large frames longer adjusters are necessary, and I have found that such adjusters when made four or five inches in length are adapted for use with frames eighteen inches and less in height, and

an increase of two inches for every sixinches increase in the length of the frame produces desirable results.

The adjuster should be put on at about the middle of the frame, one on each side at the back thereof, and it is to be noted that the lower portion of the opening 6 fits in the notches of the adjuster and the top of said opening fits in the depressions h upon the back of the adjuster, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, thus being firmly held in position.

The ends of the adjusters may be made at right angles to the body thereof, and thus be adapted for attachment to the inside edges of the frame, if so desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is- 1. The herein-described combination of an adjuster, consisting of the body portion having feet formed at the ends thereof, said feet being offset from the body portion, said body portion having notches formed on the under side thereof and depressions in the back, a hanger having an eye for passage over the adjuster, and a recess leading from theeye, the lower edge of said hanger formed by the recess being adapted to fit in one of the notches of the adjuster and the upper edge formed by the eye being adapted to fitin one of the depressions in the back, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with an adjuster of the character described, a hanger consisting of a body having an eye formed therein for passage over the adjuster, and a recess formed in one side of the eye, a tongue formed with the body and ears formed on each side thereof, said tongue having a hole therethrough for the passage of a string which is adapted to be looped oversaid ears, in the manner described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed mysignature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT D. SMART.

\Vitnesses:

JAMES F. TIMON, ALVAH J. TATRO. 

